Vikrant Shekhawat : Oct 15, 2024, 11:41 AM
SCO Summit 2024: External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar will arrive in Islamabad, Pakistan on Tuesday to attend the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) meeting. The visit is considered important amid the long-standing tense relations between India and Pakistan. Jaishankar's visit is being seen as a high-level visit from India, which is taking place after almost 9 years. During this, he may also attend a banquet hosted by Pakistan Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif, in which representatives of other SCO member countries will be welcomed.Historic visit: Indian Foreign Minister in Pakistan after 9 yearsThis is the first time since 2015 that an Indian Foreign Minister has visited Pakistan. The last time Indian Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj visited Pakistan in 2015 in connection with a conference on Afghanistan. However, this time the purpose of Foreign Minister Jaishankar's visit is only to attend the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation meeting and not bilateral talks. Both countries have already confirmed that there will be no official bilateral talks between Jaishankar and Pakistan Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar.Important SCO meeting on October 15-16S. Jaishankar's visit will be for less than 24 hours in Pakistan, where he will attend the SCO Council of Heads of Government (CHG) meeting to be held on October 15 and 16. The SCO is an important multilateral organisation, comprising major countries like India, Pakistan, China and Russia, which discuss regional security, economic cooperation and diplomacy.Strained relations after Pulwama attackSerious tensions in relations between India and Pakistan came after the Pulwama terror attack in February 2019, when India carried out airstrikes on terrorist training camps in Balakot, Pakistan. Subsequently, in August 2019 India revoked Article 370 from Jammu and Kashmir and divided the state into two union territories, which further escalated tensions between the two countries. Pakistan downgraded diplomatic relations with India after this move and also suspended trade relations.India's tough stand on cross-border terrorism
During a recent event, Foreign Minister Jaishankar stressed that India wants to have good relations with Pakistan, but this is possible only when the threat of cross-border terrorism ends. He said, "India, like any neighbor, would like to have good relations with Pakistan, but cross-border terrorism cannot be ignored." Jaishankar's statement made it clear that India will take a tough stand on the issue of cross-border terrorism before any kind of talks with Pakistan.Connection on the SCO platformBoth India and Pakistan are members of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, and the dialogue between the two countries on such a platform may not be formal, but it is considered important from a diplomatic point of view. Pakistan's then Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari attended the SCO meeting held in Goa in May 2023. This was the visit of a Pakistani Foreign Minister to India after almost 12 years.ConclusionS. Jaishankar's visit to Pakistan may be for the SCO conference, but its diplomatic significance is quite deep. This visit indicates that India is ready for dialogue with its neighboring countries on multilateral forums, but solving serious issues like cross-border terrorism is the first priority to improve bilateral relations. Despite the strained relations between India and Pakistan, participation in such multilateral events can be expected to give a positive direction to the relations between the two countries in the future.
During a recent event, Foreign Minister Jaishankar stressed that India wants to have good relations with Pakistan, but this is possible only when the threat of cross-border terrorism ends. He said, "India, like any neighbor, would like to have good relations with Pakistan, but cross-border terrorism cannot be ignored." Jaishankar's statement made it clear that India will take a tough stand on the issue of cross-border terrorism before any kind of talks with Pakistan.Connection on the SCO platformBoth India and Pakistan are members of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, and the dialogue between the two countries on such a platform may not be formal, but it is considered important from a diplomatic point of view. Pakistan's then Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari attended the SCO meeting held in Goa in May 2023. This was the visit of a Pakistani Foreign Minister to India after almost 12 years.ConclusionS. Jaishankar's visit to Pakistan may be for the SCO conference, but its diplomatic significance is quite deep. This visit indicates that India is ready for dialogue with its neighboring countries on multilateral forums, but solving serious issues like cross-border terrorism is the first priority to improve bilateral relations. Despite the strained relations between India and Pakistan, participation in such multilateral events can be expected to give a positive direction to the relations between the two countries in the future.